Pressure reducing device



G. E. HULsE ET AL 2,154,901

PRESSURE REDUCING DEVICE April 1s, 1939.

Filed May lO, 1935 Ti-:1. c 2O@ itil Patented Aopr. 18, 1939 PRESSURE REDUCIN G DEVICE Georle E.

Rumpf, Safety Car Hulse, New Haven, Connm` and John New Milford, N. J., assignors to The Heating & Lighting Company, a

corporation of New Jersey Application May lo, 1935, Serial No. 20,79

s Claims.

This invention relates to a reducing valve construction or the like and more particularly to e Valve capable of delivering a uid, for example steam, at a substantially constant pressure.

@ne oi the objects of this invention is to gorotide a reducing valve construction which is ci sturdy duralole construction and reliable operation. .Another object is to provide a device oi the above nature which is simple in construction thoroughly ei'ilcient in operation. Another object is to provide a device ci the above notare which .iz-eey be manufactured economically with *menne-news materials. Another object is to provide a device ci the above nature well able to withstand 'the corrosive effects or" nigh pressure steam or the sind corrodine; agents carried thereby. Another ooject is to provide a device of above nature which will operate effectively ier a long peiclocl ci time without clogging or any of the `carts due to foreign matter in. the steam. Other objects will loe in sort ape sind nait pointed out hereinafter.

loe invention accordingly consists in the fea tures ot construction, combinetions ci elements, and arraneeinents oi parte as will loe enempliiied in the structure to loe liereinaiter described and the scope ci the application or will be indicated in the following claims.

in tie sccomoenyine drawing :in which is shown "ferions possible embodiments my ntion,

Fig re l a sectional elevati-on is e sectioned elevation ci casing;

Figure is a sectional elevation oi the interior parte oi the relire; and

Figure l is e nersnective ci the talee Similar reference characters reier to similar carts throughout the several views oi the drawing.

ln order vthat certain features ci this invention may he more re understood, certain diculties encountered in devices ci this nature should be considered. Valves ci this general character are often used in air conditioning systerne oi the steam injector type as, for example, in railroad passenger cars or the like. in such a system. it is highly desirable that the reducing valve be one which will hold the outlet pressure. at e.- constant value for a wide range oi relatively higher inlet pressures; the operation oi such systems must be reliable in spite oi mail particles ci dirt which are often found in the steam. mtliermore, valves of this nature are characterized by a condition of imbalance oi "he valve; the valve (Ci. Sli-23) during operation which often results in delivery at depleted pressures for increases in inlet pressure. And still further, many such valves operate ndierently because of the formation oi Water traps or because oi complicated construction which renders accurate seating highly dimcult if not impossible. One of the objects ci this invention is to rectify the above conditions in addition to many others of an equally disadvantageous nature.

Referring new to the drawing and to Pleine l in particulei, a Valve casing generally indicated at i@ is provided with an inlet il (Figure 2) and an outlet l@ which are respectively in communication with e. high pressure chamber i3 (Figure is l) and a low pressure chamber it. Casing iB may comprise a. casting oi any suitable material although it is preferable that this casing be ci bronze. Substantially centrally disposed and extending vertically through casingr ill is a Valve e@ assembly generally indicated at i'a (Figures l end 3) and it is by means of this assembly that high pressure steam entering leigh pressure chercher i3 by way oi inlet i is reduced to e constant low pressure in low pressure chamber i i, all as will be more specically described hereinafter.

Reierringto Figure 2, casing i@ includes an inner partition iii which, e. wall lilo ci the casing, iornis ln'gli pressure chamber i3. .il other partition il extends iroro. the cuter wail ci the casing and ici-nos the low pressure chamber ifi (see Heure l). Partitions it end il nave extending therethrough a bore iii the top edge ille oi which is beveled to forni o. valve seat los the reception oi a valve gate as will be more clearly described hereinafter. Casing ill is :also provided with a suitably tlneaded lower bore it and with an upwardly extending nipple il@ the exterior o which is threaded.

Valve assembly it (Figure 3) includes e main 4@ valve or gate generally indicated at il which, as is more clearly shown in Figure ll, has a substantially cylindrical top part 2 is. the lower edge of which is beveled as at 2lb. Extending down- Wardly from top 2 la substantially from the center 45 thereof is a body 22 and on this body there are provided a number of radially extending Wings of iins 23. Secured to body 22 and wings 23 is a threaded screw portion 2li which extends therebelow for a. purpose to be described hereinafter.

With reference to Figure l, ns 23 of gate 2| lie within bore lll, and bevel 2lb is in registry with bevel lia of bore I8 whereby communication between chambers i3 and it is increased or con shell depending upon. the relationship of 55 the two bevels. As may be seen in Figure 3, gate 2| is provided with a central .bore 2|c which extends from top 2|a a substantial distance downwardly through body 22. A port 28 extends through body 22 and opens into bore 2|c.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3, a bellows guard 28 having a bore 28a rests upon top 2|a of gate 2|. A bellows bottom 21 having a reduced portion 21a which extends through bore 28a o! bellows guard 28 likewise rests upon top 2|a. 'A valve stem generally indicated at 28 has a threaded end 28a which is threadably received in bore 2|c oi' gate 2|. Stem 28 is also provided with a portion 28h which is received within a bore 21b extending through bellows bottom 21 and rests upon top 2|a of gate 2|. A collar portion 28c is i'ormed on stem 28 and presses down upon the top oi' bellows bottom 21 when the stem is screwed intoposition in gate A2|. Thus -guard 28 and bottom 21 are securely clamped in assembled relation to gate 2| by means oi' the collar on valve stem 28.

As is more clearly show in Figure 1, bellows guard 28 lies within the bore provided by nipple 28 and is slidably related to a cylindrical portion 29a of a bellows top 29. Bellows top 28 includes a collar portion 29b which rests on a shoulder 28a (see Figure 1) provided in the top oi' nipple 28, and is clamped in position on nipple 28 by means of a nut 80 threadably received on nlpple 20.

As viewed in Figure 3, bellows top 28 has a centrally disposed bore 29e in which is cut a shoulder .28d for the reception of a stem guide 8|. Stem guide 8| includes a downwardly extending portion 8|a through which extends a tapered bore 3 Ib provided iorathe reception oi.' the top oi' stem 28. Guide 8| is held in position on shoulder 28d by a cap 82 threaded about bellows top 28, and if desired, a gasket (not shown) may be provided between the bottom of nut 38 and the top of collar 28h to seal hermetically the threaded relation between bellows top 28 and nut 80.

A bellows or the like 33 bottom 21 and bellows top chamber in which is disposed a closing spring 84 which is coiled about valve stem 28 and is borne at each end by guide 3| and valve stem collar 28o respectively, this spring constantly urging gate 2| toward a closed position as viewed in Figure l. yValve stem 28 (Figure 3) is provided with a passage 28d which opens into the interior of bellows at one end and into bore 2|c of gate 2| at the other. Thus, as viewed in Figure i, low pressure chamber |4 is in constant communication with the chamber formed by way of port 25.. bore 2 |c and passage 28d.

It may now be seen that top 2|a (Figure l) of gate 2| is completely shut on.' from communication withvhigh pressure chamber |8, that is, the gate is not subjected or urged into a closing position by high pressure steam or the like. Furthermore by the provision of bellows-guard 28 and its closely fitting relation with bellows top 28, bellows 83 is eiectively guarded against the deleterious eects oi very hot steam or corroding agents carried thereby. And still further, it may be seen that gate 2|,fbellows guard 28, bellows bottom 21, bellows top 28, stem 28, bellows 83, spring 84, guide 8|, and cap 32 comprise a unit the several parts of which may be'assembled independently of the remainder of the valve and installed as such a unit with a high` degree of facility. 'Such a construction is advantageous in that it not only lends to a rapid assembly ofthe is secured to bellows? 28 thus forming abenows n by valve originally butalso permits of quick repair in the event oi' damage to any ofthe above-mentioned parts.

As pointed out above, a screw portion 24 (Figure 3) extends downwardly from gate 2|. Threaded onto screw 24 is a T nut 35 which has a flange portion 88a. A bellows guard 38 has a top portion 38a provided with an upwardly extending boss 31 or the like. Boss 81 has extending therethrough a milled channel or the like 31a provided with an over-hanging lip 81h, and this channel receives T nut 85, the T'nut being retained in channel 31a by the abutment of lip 81b and ilange 38a oi the T nut. Top 38a oi guard'38 is also provided with a threaded bore 88h which threadably receives a screw 88. Screw 38 extends through a bore in a bellows top 88 and the head of screw 38 clamps bellows top 88 against top 38a o1' guard 38 when screw 88 is screwed into bore 38h. The end of screw 88 also bears against the bottom of T nut 35 to eilect a tight relationship between lip 31b and ange 88a of boss 81 and T nut 35 respectively.

Threaded into bore |9 (Figure 1) of casing I8, I provide a cap generally indicated at 40 which clamps a bellows bottom 4| in position against a shoulder 42 formed in valve casing l0.

The skirt 88e of bellows guard 38 depends downwardly to guard a bellows 43 secured at its top and bottom respectively to bellows top 39 and bellows bottom 4|. Cap 40 is provided with a threaded bore 40a which threadably receives a screw 44. Screw 44 extends into a chamber 40h of cap 40 and supports therein a spring guide 45. Spring guide 45 has a collar 45a which, with bellows top 39, comprises the end supports for a gate opening spring 48. The tension of spring 48 may be readily adjusted by the vertical displacement of screw 44 which may be locked in any desired position by means of a lock nut 41. Preferably, opening spring 46 is stronger than closing spring 34 and normally tends to hold gate 4| in an open position.

Preferably the space within bellows guard 38 and around bellows 43 is in communication with low pressure chamber |4 by way of a channel 80 (Figures l and 2) formed in casing I8. Thus lower bellows 43 and upper bellows 33 are always subject to the same pressure which further assures balanced operation. The interior of bellows 43 is in communication with atmospheric pressure by way of a channel 8| (Figures 1 and 3) formed in cap 48 and this channel prevents the formation of a. condition of partial vacuum or compression within bellows 43- upon the upward or downward movement of valve 2|.

It may now be seen that the lower part of valve assembly |5 is likewise a unit comprised of T nut 35, bellows guard 38, bellows top 38, screw 38, bellows bottom 4|, cap 40, spring 48 and bellows 43 the elements of which, as in the case of the top unit, may be assembled separately from the rest-of the valve and installed with great facility as a unit. Preferablythe lower unit is first installed whereupon the upper unit is secured to the lower by means of screwing screw portion 24 of gate 2| into T nut 35.

From the above it may now be seen that gate 2| (Figure l) is always urged toward a closed position by closing spring 34. 'I'hus the closing of Athe valve is accomplished by spring 34 and the cordingiy, if the pressure increases beyond the desired point in low pressure chamber I4, bellows 43 collapses and assists closing spring '34 in overcoming the bias of opening spring 4G, in narrowing the passage between bevels Ha and 2lb to close oif the pressure of high pressure steam or the like.' Conversely, a decrease in pressure in low pressure chamber `I4 decreases the pressure about lower bellows 43 thus permitting the tension in opening spring 43 to compress closing spring 34, gate 2| accordingly being open to permit a freer iiow' of high pressure steam to build up the low pressure to the desired value.

In operation high pressure steam or the like enters high pressure chamber- Il in casing I0 by way of inlet Il. From high pressure chamber I3 the steam or the like enters low pressure chamber I4 by way of bore I8 past gate 2|. If the low pressure in chamber I4 is at the desired value, the position of gate 2| does not change. Assuming, however, that the pressure of the high pressure steam increases, the pressure in low pressure chamber I4 tends to increase slightly. Upon such increase, however, an increase in pressure about lower bellows 43 immediately'results be' cause the pressure thereabout is always thatA of the low pressure chamber because of the communication provided by way of channel 60. Accordingly, this increased pressure destroys the equilibrium of the opening and closing forces and collapses bellows 43 slightly against the opening tendency of spring 46 and partially closes gate 2|. Upon such closing the pressure on the low pressure side rapidly falls to the desired value. However, if it falls below the desired value, then the pressure about lower bellows 43 decreases to permit the tension of opening spring 46 to overcome partially the tension of closing spring 34, the result being that gate 2| opens slightly to permit freer passage of high pressure steam or the like. Hence the valve is immediately responsive to the slightest variations in pressure on the low pressure side.

From the above it may be seen that the pressure on the top and bottom of gate 2| is always constant in that both sides of the gate are subjected to the existing pressure on the 10W pressure. side only, and this because the area of the top of gate 2| within bellows 33 is substantially the same as the area of the bottom of gate 2| which lies in the low pressure chamber. The top and bottom of gate 2| are, therefore, subjected -to the same pressure and the particular value of the outlet pressure has no effect on the closing of the valve except as it operates on lower bellows '36. Also as the top of gate 2| is sealed from high pressure chamber I3 by bellows 33, the high pressure has no effect on the opening or closing of the valve. Accordingly, any increase in pressure on the high pressure side does not act directly on the operating parts of the valve, i. e.,the valve is always in a condition of balance to efficiently accommodate wide variations in inlet pressure. It will further be seen that inasmuch as gate 2| is rarely completely closed there is no possibility of dirt particles or the like lodging between the valve seats to aifect the operation of the valve. Furthermore, bellows 33 and 43 are effectively guarded against the direct impact of high pressure steam and hence are not subject to the deleterious effects thereof nor to the effects of any corroding agents which might be carried by the 9,154,901 l I- 'i 3 no space yin which such water could be trapped to interfere with the accurate voperation of any l of the parts. v

Accordingly, it may be seen that I have produced a valve in which the several objects hereof the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: f

'1. In regulating valve construction, in combiv nation, meansforming a casing having high pressure and low pressure sides, means forming a valve seat in said casing between said sides, a gate member registering with said seat to control the flow of fluid from said high pressure side to said low pressure side, a memberV secured to said casing and said gate member and hermetically sealing said gate member from said high pressure side, saidV gate member having a passage connecting the interior of said member with said low pressure side whereby both sides of said gate member are subjected to substantially equal pressures, spring means connected to said gate member for regulating its position with respect to said seat, and means for preventing moisture from collecting in the bottom of said casing.

2. In ,regulating valve construction, in combi.- nation, means forming a casing having high pressure and low pressure sides, means forming a. valve seat in said casing between said sides, a regulating valve disc cooperating with said valve seat to control the iiow of uid from said high pressure side to said low pressure side, a spring for closing said valve disc, a spring for opening said valve disc, 'means imperviously connected to said casing for isolating said disc from said high pressure side whereby both sides of said valve disc are subjectefd to substantially equal pressures/and a guard member encasing said lastmentioned means to segregate fluid in said casing therefrom.

3. In regulating valve construction, in combination, means forming a casing having high pressure and low pressure sides, means forming a port having a valve seat in said casing between said sides, a single seated valve in said port in registry with said seat to control the flow of fluid `from said high pressure side to said low pressure side, a member connected to said valve and said casing and isolating said valve from said high pressure side, said valve having a passage connecting the interior of said member with vsaid low pressure side whereby both sides of said valve are subjected to substantially equal pressures,

means, and guard means for said member and said pressure responsive means for segregation thereof from fluid within said casing. t

4. In regulating valve construction, in combination, means forming a casing having a high pressure and a low pressure side, means forming a port having a valve seat in said Vcasing between said sides, a single-seated valve in said port in registry with said seat to -control the flow of liquid from said high pressure side to said low presare subjected to substantially equal pressures, a

closing spring connected to said valve, an opening spring connected to the opposite side of said valve, means for changing at will the tension of said closing spring, means for changing at will the tension oi' said opening spring, and separate guard means for each of said springs to segregate them from the iluid within the casing.

5. In regulating valve construction, in combi,- nation, means forming a casing having a high pressure and a low pressure chamber therein. a valve in said casing between said chambers and operable to decrease or increase the flow of a iluid from said high pressure chamber to said low pressure chamber, a spring for closing said4 valve, a spring for opening said vaive, a bellows connected to said casing and to one side of said valve and lenclosing one of said springs, a second bellows connected to said casing and to the other side of said valve and enclosing the other of said springs, and guard. means disposed about-each oi' said bellows to prevent direct impingement oi' said iluid thereagainst.

GEORGE E. HULSE.

JOHN RUMPF. 

